Hospital badge without M.D. after your name?!

[fab4fan]

Well, that was the pat answer I got when I went back. Of course, there was a long line. I dont think it will be a problem, but if my coats have to be fixed, then I may have to be MD for a few weeks.

That's just wrong. And like it would break them financially to fix your badge. 🙄

Hope it works out for you.

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Members don't see this ad.

 

[MedicinePowder]

That's just wrong. And like it would break them financially to fix your badge. 🙄

Hope it works out for you.

I have alot of respect for DOs. In fact, as a medical student at allopathic hospital, I met some impressive DO residents. However, at this same hospital there were a couple DO residents that I felt misguided others by wearing a badge that had M.D. after their name. We had both a private and county hospital and the county hospital appropriately put your title, either DO or MD; however, at the private hospital the computer automatically put MD on ur card if you were a resident. Coincidently, a few of the DOs preferred to put their "MD" badge over their DO badge, and embroidered Dr. Smith on their coats, omitted either MD or DO.

In other words, if even physicians that don't own an MD title get to wear MD on their badges, you darn sure this guy who got into an allopathic school and finished medical school should be able to wear his title. I say, this needs to be brought up to administration and a petition brought fourth.

 

[Blade28]

And yeah, the novelty of being called "doctor" wears off mighty quick. First night on call, every ten minutes: "Hi this is Dr. mamadoc, I was paged.... " "Hello this is Dr. mamadoc, I was paged...." "Hi this is Dr. mamadoc, did you page the medicine intern?" Pretty soon "doctor" sounds like a dirty word.

Exactly! 👍 I feel the same way. I pretty much can mumble "Hi, this is Dr. Blade28 from surgery, returning a page" in my sleep.

 

[JackBauERfan]

Exactly! 👍 I feel the same way. I pretty much can mumble "Hi, this is Dr. Blade28 from surgery, returning a page" in my sleep.

my first day I was on call and accidently I would say my name and that I'm answering the page (and would to forget to mention Dr. in front of my name haha). Of course a few minutes later they would page back and ask who the doctor was to put on the order hahah.

 

[DOtobe]

I called myself "doctor" when I returned my pages for about a month. From then on I called myself by my first name. The fun of calling yourself "doctor" does wear off.

And regarding the DO thing, my badge from my main hospital says DO after my name. I guess one of the other hospitals we go to would automatically put "MD" after our names...until one of the DO's in the class ahead of mine informed them that not all of us are MDs. So now our nametags say DO. I wouldn't feel right having MD after my name. I earned my DO degree, not my MD degree.

 

[JackBauERfan]

I called myself "doctor" when I returned my pages for about a month. From then on I called myself by my first name. The fun of calling yourself "doctor" does wear off.

And regarding the DO thing, my badge from my main hospital says DO after my name. I guess one of the other hospitals we go to would automatically put "MD" after our names...until one of the DO's in the class ahead of mine informed them that not all of us are MDs. So now our nametags say DO. I wouldn't feel right having MD after my name. I earned my DO degree, not my MD degree.

Yeah I would think it would be better to put DO if you really earned the DO, even though sometimes patients do not know initially what that means, if more DO's kept wearing it, eventually people would know. I think putting MD if you are DO is only hurting the DO recognition in the future....

 

[Blade28]

OK, I'm confused. I thought you were entering Davis as a G Surg intern? Or am I thinking about someone else?

 

[AmoryBlaine]

A bit off topic, especially since this has been flogged to death in the past, but I was in the hospital a few days ago after a long hiatus and I noticed that EVERYONE wears long white coats except for the med students. There were a group of people walking towards me in LWCs and hospital scrubs and I kid you not, they were cafeteria workers.

This sort of thing only bothers me b/c I have to imagine it confuses patients. For this reason I'm afraid I will insist that my ID/coat say "M.D." The tattoo I will be getting on my forehead will also probably help to cut down on confusion.

 

[Dr.MISHKA D.O.]

Same thing happened to me, and when I told gme they looked me up to check it out and i noticed that all the D.O.'s where lumped together at the bottom of the housestaff list - a total of 7 residents and 1 fellow out of 1,000 house staff (finally i am in the 1%tile -top or bottom your choice). they promptly changed my badge, although no embroidery on coat, just scrubs.

the mish

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Exactly! 👍 I feel the same way. I pretty much can mumble "Hi, this is Dr. Blade28 from surgery, returning a page" in my sleep.

Better than my standard way of returning pages at obscene times during the hours of darkness: "This is Steve. You paged respiratory? What (insert optional 'the hell') do you want?"

 

[irrka]

My ID badge reads:
DR DOE
John

My lab coat has the hospital logo on the left and on the right reads:
John Doe, MD
Emergency Medicine

oooh, i want that one! with the jane version of course

 

[irrka]

hmm maybe i'll just get away with the team name returning page. i seriously have no intention of having to spell out my name while i'm still asleep.

 

[caroladybelle]

Maybe it's my upbringing but I still refer to people older than my as Mr. and Mrs. and anyone with a doctorate as Dr. in the appropriate setting.

And exactly how old are you, Sinnman?

Because, given that the median age of nurses is 43, there is a good chance that many of the nurses are older than you and deserving of the title Mr., Mrs, Miss or Ms....per your own statement.

I have MDs that give me their first name and those that give me their last name. I do not note (nor care) what color, size, or length of their coats.... nor would it make much difference in how I treat them. Nor do I remember such things when I page them on call.

I only care that my patient gets the best treatment by the appropriate professional. Anything else is incidental.

 

[caroladybelle]

hmm maybe i'll just get away with the team name returning page. i seriously have no intention of having to spell out my name while i'm still asleep.

You will find in many facilities, that will not be acceptable. Per many regulations (consistant w/JCAHO), the name of whomever gives the orders or was notified must be documented. And in a few, there an MD number that must accompany all orders.

At my current teaching facility, the on-call leaves that info written on our call board, so that they do not need to repeat it in their sleep.

 

[f_w]

hmm maybe i'll just get away with the team name returning page. i seriously have no intention of having to spell out my name while i'm still asleep.

I guess that ACGME sleep deprivation lecture went right by you. People have been killed by interns who didn't bother to wake up before answering a page (sleep latency).

 

[signomi]

My residency had plain white coats. No logo, no names, nothing. And they were loaners, so you couldn't have your name sewed on them. They also did not allow "outside" coats. Our name tags were like this:

JANE
DOE, MD

Nine times out of ten, patients had no idea we were doctors! 🙄

 

[8744]

My coats say:

Panda Bear, MD
Emergency Medicine


No point. Just happy to be in Emergency Medicine. My patients know I'm a doctor, by the way. Maybe they read my ID badge. Maybe I just look the part. But they all call me "Doctor" or "Doc."

Don't be so up-tight, folks. It's all right to introduce yourself to patients as "Dr. So-and-so." You're not insulting them, they expect it, and many feel uncomfortable calling their doctor by his first name. For my part, I call all my patients Mr., Miss, or Mrs. as appropriate.

 

[irrka]

i was checking on this guy's wound on call, when his wife asked me about his CT scan results (this is like 12am, and the scan was done at 9pm). when i explain that not only will the read not be available till morning but i've also not had a chance to go down to look at the actual scan, she says something to the order of "it's ok, the doctors will be in in the morning, i'll ask them). mumble mumble. what am i? chopped liver?

 

[njbmd]

i was checking on this guy's wound on call, when his wife asked me about his CT scan results (this is like 12am, and the scan was done at 9pm). when i explain that not only will the read not be available till morning but i've also not had a chance to go down to look at the actual scan, she says something to the order of "it's ok, the doctors will be in in the morning, i'll ask them). mumble mumble. what am i? chopped liver?

Hey there,
My favourite answer to the "What's the results of my husband's CT Scan (or x-ray etc.)?" is to say that "We are still reviewing the study (with the radiologist) and we will let you know the results when we are done". This will get you off the hook and give you some time to get down to radiology and review the scan or get the result etc. I never let any patient (or patient's relative) know that I have "not had the time" to do anything because likely, I have had the TIME but not the opportunity. One of my senior attendings taught me this line and I have had occasion to use it more than once.

njbmd 🙂

 

[JackBauERfan]

i was checking on this guy's wound on call, when his wife asked me about his CT scan results (this is like 12am, and the scan was done at 9pm). when i explain that not only will the read not be available till morning but i've also not had a chance to go down to look at the actual scan, she says something to the order of "it's ok, the doctors will be in in the morning, i'll ask them). mumble mumble. what am i? chopped liver?

its hard for females, there has been two occasions where we have been with the full team that includes 5 folks (3 interns and 2 residents: 3 are females) and just as we leave the room the patient makes some comment about if the nurses can help him moved up in bed or something (referring to the female doctors!).

I of course say "they sure can"; which pretty much guarantees me a beating later on haha.

 

[Poety]

Mine says MD, but something has GOT to be done about that damn picture on it 😡 I mean, do they INTENTIONALLY make you look that bad? 😳

 

[irrka]

Mine says MD, but something has GOT to be done about that damn picture on it 😡 I mean, do they INTENTIONALLY make you look that bad? 😳

you know that saying "if you look like the picture in your passport, you're too sick to travel?" apparently the hospital adaptation is "if i look like the picture in my id, i need to be admitted"

 

[gerido]

Jesus, kid, quit being so arrogant. I have an MD and JD and don't go around insisting people call me Dr. or piss myself if someone calls me "Mr." or if someone forgets the MD after my name. Frankly, this is the type of whiny ass complaint I'd expect from a chiropractor or optometrist, not a physician. Ask them to correct it, but don't cry if they don't. After all, you're only a resident...so learn to accept your place in the hierarchy. Now, if you were an attending, that would be different. 🙂

Gotta love the residents.

The guy who goes through the trouble of adding Zachary S., M.D., J.D. on an anonymous forum is calling someone arrogant... you're the worst psychiatrist ever - you have no perception whatsoever. And you shouldn't be one to talk about compensating for a small dick, considering that, as a practicing physician, you still visit studentdoctor.net and get involve into petty arguments about tittle that has no relevancy in the real world. My advice, get over it, there's nothing that you can do the compensate for your failure in life - even if you're not willing to admit it

 

[LO281OK]

I havent gotten any of my stuff yet but I will say this, patients dont read your coats or anything else.

Actually, while my wife was recovering after each of our children this is exactly what I did to know who I was talking to! 😎

 

[PathOne]

Personally, I find it seriously funny that a thread like this now runs five (5) pages.
I (also) have a research appointment, and was issued a badge. It said
myname mylastname
INVESTIGATOR

then, a few weeks later, somebody from HR contacts me with many apologies and a new badge
myname mylastname MD
INVESTIGATOR

wow! I really felt so much more important, elevated to a whole new level in medicine.

Seriously, people! How can you care so much about such a trivial issue?

 

[Whodathunkit]

its hard for females, there has been two occasions where we have been with the full team that includes 5 folks (3 interns and 2 residents: 3 are females) and just as we leave the room the patient makes some comment about if the nurses can help him moved up in bed or something (referring to the female doctors!).

I of course say "they sure can"; which pretty much guarantees me a beating later on haha.

You think being a female is hard. Try being a minority.

Most times, I never go ANYWHERE without my coat on and ID clearly visible, so no one has any questions on what my role is. Less I be mistaken for someone randomly walking the halls, signing charts, ordering labs and the like. And believe me, I was CONSTANTLY asked what my name was...again...after I told them when I entered the room. And I say it clearly.

Luckily I have this trusty ID badge with the recoil. So whenever they ask me....again...I just pull it up to their face, so they can read it with their own two eyes.

Thank goodness it says MD behind it. It's going to be interesting when I'm an attending. In clinic, my other resident friends never get the "is someone else going to see me" as much as I do.

If I didn't get the MD on my badge. I'd be hella P.O.'d

 

[MuDPhuDShane]

I

 

[cdql]

I am too an MT(ASCP). 😀 I heard that in some states it is illegal to be called an MD, if you don't have a license to practice medicine. And you can't have a license until you pass step 3 and completed residency.

Anybody knows what is the real "skinny" on this? I wish to start sporting my "MD" initials as soon as I graduate in 3 years I hope!! 😀

you know what you should do?

you should get an MD license plate in 3 years. a hospital ID with MD on it might run you into legal trouble. but no one will question the license plate.

it works out well for you should you get into a fender bender too! people are much nicer and much less likely to sue if you have MD proudly emblazoned over your license plate

have fun! 👍

 

[cdql]

i was merely congratulating you on the fact that you will graduate and obtain an md degree

i think it's only right you proudly plaster it on a license plate for pedestrians and plaintiffs

why the angry reaction?

 

[Bertelman]

4400- Your avatar is mysteriously waxin' that A perfectly in time to "13 years" by Francine, playing on my computer right now. It creeps me out.

Now to the purpose of my post....

1) I don't understand how someone can resuscitate a thread that is 6 months old, and just jump into the conversation as though anyone still cares. No mention of "I was browsing, and thought this was a neat topic".

2) Let's get this thread permanently linked to the "who should wear the white coat" threads.

 

[Winged Scapula]

I am too an MT(ASCP). 😀 I heard that in some states it is illegal to be called an MD, if you don't have a license to practice medicine. And you can't have a license until you pass step 3 and completed residency.

Anybody knows what is the real "skinny" on this? I wish to start sporting my "MD" initials as soon as I graduate in 3 years I hope!! 😀

The MD is the degree and has NOTHING to do with being licensed.

You can call yourself an MD once you finish an allopathic medical program, so cut loose in 2010!

Most states have either temporary or in-training licenses. A full unrestricted license does require passing Step 3, but again has NOTHING to do with completing residency. There are plenty of people out there who have a medical license without finishing a residency. You cannot be Board eligible or certified without having completed a residency, though.

Hope this helps.

 

[EctopicFetus]

Honestly people who CARES.. Your patients dont..

Oh BTW I have one ID (we are at 2 hospitals) that Ectopic Fetus MD, the other says Dr Fetus..

I could give 2 craps.. Oh and for those of you who want to let the world know you are a doc.. dont.. no one will be impressed and by publishing it all over you look like a tool.

 

[Miklos]

The MD is the degree and has NOTHING to do with being licensed.

You can call yourself an MD once you finish an allopathic medical program, so cut loose in 2010!

There is at least one state where the title 'MD' is restricted by law to licensed physicians and surgeons: California.

2054. (a) Any person who uses in any sign, business card, or
letterhead, or, in an advertisement, the words "doctor" or
"physician," the letters or prefix "Dr.," the initials "M.D.," or any
other terms or letters indicating or implying that he or she is a
physician and surgeon, physician, surgeon, or practitioner under the
terms of this or any other law, or that he or she is entitled to
practice hereunder, or who represents or holds himself or herself out
as a physician and surgeon, physician, surgeon, or practitioner
under the terms of this or any other law, without having at the time
of so doing a valid, unrevoked, and unsuspended certificate as a
physician and surgeon under this chapter, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

 

[deleted109597]

Thanks for the reminder of how much education it takes to become a physician. As a nurse at a teaching hospital, I had absolutely no idea what it takes to become a doctor.

Alright, I'll go out here (6 months too late) and say that you are absolutely correct, and no, you don't.

That being said, if a nurse wanted to be called Nurse Doe and told me that, then I would certainly do so. I have known plenty of nurses that want to be addressed as Ms or Mrs, but none that have ever asked for Nurse in front of their name. I also don't know any accountants, bank tellers, CEOs, or anyone else that wanted to be known by their title. However, the doctorate is a different thing. Ph.D.'s, D.Ph.'s, D.V.M.'s, D.D.S.'s, M.D.'s, and D.O.'s all earned their degrees. Some naturopaths and chiropractors also wish to be known as Dr., and I don't even want to start in what this doctorate of nursing is going to cause at the hospital.

As an aside, at our facility, the nurses have the letters RN in three different places on their name tags, once in huge letters vertically down the side, once after their names, and once on the bottom, in case you weren't paying attention. The residents have a different name tag system, as they aren't employees of the hospital, but of the school.

 

[Winged Scapula]

There is at least one state where the title 'MD' is restricted by law to licensed physicians and surgeons: California.

Thanks for the info from California, but the passage provided is not clear to me. It does not say you that have an unrestricted LICENSE simply that you have a valid, unrevoked CERTIFICATE as a physician, which is not the same as a full license. Therefore, I would assume anyone with an MD (or the foreign equivalent) degree who is eligible for a license can call themselves MD, but of course, cannot practice as one without a license.😕

 

[EctopicFetus]

That is easy for you to say, you already have your M.D. And I think patients would give more than 2 craps about who will be placed in charge of their health and well being.

It's not to impress, it's to address.

I walk in a room and I tell the patient "Hi Im Dr Fetus, Ill be taking care of you today. How can I help you?"

Who the F cares if I am wearing my badge.

Of course it is easy for me to say, cause im not all that caught up in titles. Using your logic you shouldnt care at all since you havent earned this title yet. I hope that once you earn it you'll remember that there is 100x more to learn as an md than as an MS.

 

[EctopicFetus]

You obviously have no idea on what you're talking about

Pray tell little peon.. what did I miss.. Perhaps you are too busy relearned the all important Krebs cycle and spending hours slurping your profs..

you said..

I wish to start sporting my "MD" initials as soon as I graduate in 3 years I hope!!

I do understand that you are worrying about some ridiculous little rule that may or may not exist.

You are an MD when you graduate from an MD school. Anyways I think you have been tooled upon enough.. Ill let this go. Good luck studying the coagulation cascade!

 

[jamielehigh]

I've rotated through several hospitals in Philadelphia when the dreaded JHCOA inspectors came through. Every nurse manager and HR type walked around and made sure that everyone (staff, students) had a ID badge with their title, department AND employee number clearly stated. Even visitors have badges.

So by crazy JHCOA standards "John Doe" would not be enough. It would have to say "John Doe, MD (or DO or CRNA or PAC or RT or whatever), Resident, Internal Medicine, with the employee number 123456 somewhere."

Maybe it's because Philadelphia hospitals exist in a highly litigious environment. Or because ID badges prevent homeless people from moving into the hospital.

Who knows... but I agree that the ID badge (and your coat) should have your name and your exact job at the hospital.

 

[Miklos]

Thanks for the info from California, but the passage provided is not clear to me. It does not say you that have an unrestricted LICENSE simply that you have a valid, unrevoked CERTIFICATE as a physician, which is not the same as a full license. Therefore, I would assume anyone with an MD (or the foreign equivalent) degree who is eligible for a license can call themselves MD, but of course, cannot practice as one without a license.😕

I'm not an attorney, but it seems to me that the key to the passage is the following: under the terms of this or any other law

In other words, the medical board has the right to restrict use of the title. If you don't believe me, I suggest that you call them.

If my memory serves my right, even physicians with special faculty permits from the medical board that legally limit their practice to the university grounds have found themselves under scrutiny from the medical board for advertising as MDs.

 

[dpmd]

Say what you will but calling an MD/DO by their first name in a professional setting is a subtle disrespect.

There is nothing wrong with being called doctor or having your initials put on your ID badge. I guarantee you that if you were in the military you wouldn't walk up to a colonel and call him "Bob." You may think it's stupid and I may be a little old fashioned but seeing the general decline of the physician I'm not giving in to this.

Any adult in a professional situation should be addressed by their title and last name if you don't know them. Plenty of people will say call me "first name", then it is fine. There is nothing disrespectful about calling someone by their first name, if they ask you to do so. For the record, when I was on active duty I called several of the people I routinely worked with by their first name (or more commonly, by a nickname) including physicians who were colonels, but asked me to call them by their first name. At that time I was and enlisted LVN, but my respect for them was not dependent on their rank, title, or position; but because of the dedication they demonstrated in taking care of some of the sickest ICU patients I have seen and the way they valued my role as a member of the care team. We did have one ass who would yell at staff and treat everyone like they were below him. We called him Dr "last name" or sir, but we did not respect him. Ask for your M.D. indication on your badge if you like. You did earn it so it's not wrong of you to want it. However, don't confuse the title with respect. You earn that with your actions every day, not from the school you have gone through.

 

[sdn1977]

I'm not an attorney, but it seems to me that the key to the passage is the following: under the terms of this or any other law

In other words, the medical board has the right to restrict use of the title. If you don't believe me, I suggest that you call them.

If my memory serves my right, even physicians with special faculty permits from the medical board that legally limit their practice to the university grounds have found themselves under scrutiny from the medical board for advertising as MDs.

I'm just a pharmacist, but I teach at a university hospital (& occassionally have to work there as well🙁 ) in CA.

Each July, we have brand new interns with the ink still wet on their diplomas & they are, indeed, MD's & have name tags which indicate such. We call them Dr so & so (unfortunately...we have to call them many times in July😀 ) - so for the guy who is months from graduating - if you're in CA - you're an MD to us & we'll treat you as such.

Now....we also have many, many MD's who do research only - they are not licensed as an MD in CA. They too can use MD, but their name tags & coats usually say: MD, MBA, PhD & as many other letter combinations.

I may be entirely wrong, but just having & being an MD does not allow you all the rights & privileges which come with being licensed. That is why, in CA, when you call in an rx.....I'll ask you for your DEA (soon to be UPIN) & license #. If you don't have that license # - you can prescribe (altho there are exceptions......a whole different thread!).

The passage you are referring to in CA law, in complete context, deals with the usage of the title & academic degree when implying or indicating that you can treat patients. An example, the intern who has not completed all licensing examinations (or, occasionally, more importantly - paid the money for the CA license😉 or the research MD who is not licensed, cannot have a business card printed which indicates they see patients by appointment. However, they can and do have business cards made up with whatever they do....Bob Smith, MD, PhD Department of Neuroscience or whatever...but - he can't in any way indicate he treats or sees pts unless he's licensed in this state.

In the CA B&P code there is also this same passage, but it applies to dentists, optometrists, podiatrists & pharmacists - all for the same purpose - to limit their ability to advertise.

See the difference? Its to keep people from believing you are something you are not. Many retired physicians still use their MD on business cards and in social situations or if donating or participating in an event, but their license is inactive, so they cannot see or treat patients.

But...for the new grad - or soon to be....in CA, we all think you can & should use your MD here & we'll use your title as Dr. You earned it & deserve it...but - we'll still call you when you want to give DSS 100mg IV qd j/k!!!!

 

[toofache32]

...but - we'll still call you when you want to give DSS 100mg IV qd

What's wrong with that?

 

[Winged Scapula]

The passage you are referring to in CA law, in complete context, deals with the usage of the title & academic degree when implying or indicating that you can treat patients. An example, the intern who has not completed all licensing examinations (or, occasionally, more importantly - paid the money for the CA license😉 or the research MD who is not licensed, cannot have a business card printed which indicates they see patients by appointment.
See the difference? Its to keep people from believing you are something you are not. Many retired physicians still use their MD on business cards and in social situations or if donating or participating in an event, but their license is inactive, so they cannot see or treat patients.

But...for the new grad - or soon to be....in CA, we all think you can & should use your MD here & we'll use your title as Dr. You earned it & deserve it...but - we'll still call you when you want to give DSS 100mg IV qd j/k!!!!

That's how I understood it - you can use the title MD if you have the earned degree but if you are not licensed you cannot present yourself as an MD available to treat patients independently.

Miklos - its not that I didn't believe you, it just didn't jive with what I heard from friends back home in Cali.

 

[Miklos]

I'm just a pharmacist, but I teach at a university hospital (& occassionally have to work there as well🙁 ) in CA.

Each July, we have brand new interns with the ink still wet on their diplomas & they are, indeed, MD's & have name tags which indicate such. We call them Dr so & so (unfortunately...we have to call them many times in July😀 ) - so for the guy who is months from graduating - if you're in CA - you're an MD to us & we'll treat you as such.

Now....we also have many, many MD's who do research only - they are not licensed as an MD in CA. They too can use MD, but their name tags & coats usually say: MD, MBA, PhD & as many other letter combinations.

I may be entirely wrong, but just having & being an MD does not allow you all the rights & privileges which come with being licensed. That is why, in CA, when you call in an rx.....I'll ask you for your DEA (soon to be UPIN) & license #. If you don't have that license # - you can prescribe (altho there are exceptions......a whole different thread!).

The passage you are referring to in CA law, in complete context, deals with the usage of the title & academic degree when implying or indicating that you can treat patients. An example, the intern who has not completed all licensing examinations (or, occasionally, more importantly - paid the money for the CA license😉 or the research MD who is not licensed, cannot have a business card printed which indicates they see patients by appointment. However, they can and do have business cards made up with whatever they do....Bob Smith, MD, PhD Department of Neuroscience or whatever...but - he can't in any way indicate he treats or sees pts unless he's licensed in this state.

In the CA B&P code there is also this same passage, but it applies to dentists, optometrists, podiatrists & pharmacists - all for the same purpose - to limit their ability to advertise.

See the difference? Its to keep people from believing you are something you are not. Many retired physicians still use their MD on business cards and in social situations or if donating or participating in an event, but their license is inactive, so they cannot see or treat patients.

But...for the new grad - or soon to be....in CA, we all think you can & should use your MD here & we'll use your title as Dr. You earned it & deserve it...but - we'll still call you when you want to give DSS 100mg IV qd j/k!!!!

You are of course, correct.

Just to nitpick, there are three separate issues that you bring up.

1) California resident physicians prior to full licensure. They are, of course, covered by the law so long as they limit their activity to their training. (I thought this so obvious that I didn't bring it up. My bad.)
2) Researchers. This is much more tricky and I am not entirely convinced, given what I read about the special faculty permits.
3) Retired physicians. That's a whole different enchilada. In the past, there were provisions for retired physicians to retain their license (and avoid licensing fees) so long as they limited their activity to volunteering. That said, I don't think anyone would begrudge them (legally or otherwise) the use of the title.

The point I meant to make was that the newly minted graduate of a medical school would probably be on very shakey ground printing business cards with the title MD outside of a residency. I'm sorry that I did not make that clear earlier.

 

[Miklos]

That's how I understood it - you can use the title MD if you have the earned degree but if you are not licensed you cannot present yourself as an MD available to treat patients independently.

Miklos - its not that I didn't believe you, it just didn't jive with what I heard from friends back home in Cali.

Please see above. Do you see my point?

 

[Winged Scapula]

Please see above. Do you see my point?

Gotcha...looks like we were focusing on different aspects. Thanks...🙂

 

[CatsandCradles]

Guys,

On a funnier note I think it depends on what your last name is.

For example, I go to a DO school...and what if my name was like "Tai Kwan"

 

[Mr. McDuck]

Or "Hap Ki". 😛

 

[Stimulate]

I've rotated through several hospitals in Philadelphia when the dreaded JHCOA inspectors came through. Every nurse manager and HR type walked around and made sure that everyone (staff, students) had a ID badge with their title, department AND employee number clearly stated. Even visitors have badges.

So by crazy JHCOA standards "John Doe" would not be enough. It would have to say "John Doe, MD (or DO or CRNA or PAC or RT or whatever), Resident, Internal Medicine, with the employee number 123456 somewhere."

Maybe it's because Philadelphia hospitals exist in a highly litigious environment. Or because ID badges prevent homeless people from moving into the hospital.

Who knows... but I agree that the ID badge (and your coat) should have your name and your exact job at the hospital.

This is absolutely correct. This is a hot topic with JCAHO right now. Patients have a right to know the title of who is taking care of them. This is going to become even more important when the doctor of nursing degrees start to become more prevalent.

Sure it is a bit of a knock on the ego to work so hard to graduate from medical school and then have your ID badge list you as "Bob Johnson, Resident"...but keep things in perspective...think of the poor patient gazing at your ID badge wondering what the f*ck is a resident as you cannulate his subclavian vein. To me it says something (and not something good) about an institution's lack of respect for its physician trainees and for its patients when they refuse to properly identify their employees. In fact, if your institution is such a place you could always assist them in coming into compliance by anonymously notifying JCAHO via its website (I would point this out to the HR department first though because I imagine the fix will come quickly!).

Next on the agenda for JCAHO is for training programs to provide a readily available resource that identifies who is qualified/credentialled to perform what, i.e. the operating room personnel will need to verify that the surgeon is qualified to perform that specific procedure, etc. Can you imagine the delays this is going to cause? Will all trainees have to carry a little permission slip from our program directors that carefully lists the tasks we are allowed to complete? Perhaps we can decline to perform any tasks that are not listed on the aforementioned permission slip.

 

[Winged Scapula]

...think of the poor patient gazing at your ID badge wondering what the f*ck is a resident as you cannulate his subclavian vein.

Ours say, "Housestaff"...if you think patients don't know what a resident is, they really have trouble with Housestaff. 🙂